Area college basketball: Limestone women win record 12th straight

Staff reports

Published: Saturday, February 9, 2013 at 3:15 a.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, February 10, 2013 at 12:17 a.m.

In Wilson, N.C., No. 16 Limestone set a program record with its 12th straight victory on Saturday night, beating Barton 51-48 and taking another step toward a second-straight Conference Carolinas regular-season title.

Trailing by one with 13:44 remaining, a jumper by senior guard Tia Williams and consecutive scores by senior guard Stephanie Hayes powered a string of six straight points to give the Saints (18-2, 15-1) a 40-35 advantage midway through the second half.

The Bulldogs would close to within a single point on two different occasions over the next 3:42 but a fast break score by Williams and a jumper in the lane by senior guard Maria Young (Asheville, N.C.) put Limestone up 46-41 with just over five to play.

Barton would rally to tie the game at 48 with 1:27 remaining, but Young and Williams combined to go 3-for-4 from the free-throw line in the final 72 seconds, and the defense held strong to preserve the win.

Barton 64, Limestone 59: In Wilson, N.C., the Saints (14-7, 10-5) couldn’t capitalize on a chance to take sole possession of first place in Conference Carolinas.

Senior forward Charles Blue led all scorers with 23 points on 10-of-15 shooting, hauled in seven rebounds and blocked three shots.

Senior center Phillip Moultrie had 12 points, most of them down the stretch in key situations, and six rebounds. Senior forward Joe Raga delivered a game-high 11 rebounds and dished out six assists and junior guard PJ Foster added 10 points.

Heavily defended and with the shot clock running down, the Bulldogs’ Gerald Boston knocked down a fall away jumper from the right corner of the key to make it 63-59 with 36 seconds on the clock. Limestone would come out firing at the other end. Three straight 3-point attempts did not find their marks in a 13-second span and a turnover gave the ball back to Barton, which converted on one of two foul shots and sealed the win.

<p>In Wilson, N.C., No. 16 Limestone set a program record with its 12th straight victory on Saturday night, beating Barton 51-48 and taking another step toward a second-straight Conference Carolinas regular-season title.</p><p>Trailing by one with 13:44 remaining, a jumper by senior guard Tia Williams and consecutive scores by senior guard Stephanie Hayes powered a string of six straight points to give the Saints (18-2, 15-1) a 40-35 advantage midway through the second half. </p><p>The Bulldogs would close to within a single point on two different occasions over the next 3:42 but a fast break score by Williams and a jumper in the lane by senior guard Maria Young (Asheville, N.C.) put Limestone up 46-41 with just over five to play.</p><p>Barton would rally to tie the game at 48 with 1:27 remaining, but Young and Williams combined to go 3-for-4 from the free-throw line in the final 72 seconds, and the defense held strong to preserve the win.</p><p><b>Florida Gulf Coast 72, USC Upstate 49: </b>Shelby Hicks led the Spartans (9-14, 5-7) with 12 points in a loss to Florida Gulf Coast, which improved to 13-0 in the Atlantic Sun Conference. Brittany Starling added 11 points for Upstate.</p><p><b>MEN</p><p>Barton 64, Limestone 59: </b>In Wilson, N.C., the Saints (14-7, 10-5) couldn't capitalize on a chance to take sole possession of first place in Conference Carolinas.</p><p>Senior forward Charles Blue led all scorers with 23 points on 10-of-15 shooting, hauled in seven rebounds and blocked three shots.</p><p>Senior center Phillip Moultrie had 12 points, most of them down the stretch in key situations, and six rebounds. Senior forward Joe Raga delivered a game-high 11 rebounds and dished out six assists and junior guard PJ Foster added 10 points.</p><p>Heavily defended and with the shot clock running down, the Bulldogs' Gerald Boston knocked down a fall away jumper from the right corner of the key to make it 63-59 with 36 seconds on the clock. Limestone would come out firing at the other end. Three straight 3-point attempts did not find their marks in a 13-second span and a turnover gave the ball back to Barton, which converted on one of two foul shots and sealed the win.</p>